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If Mr Hunt was saying this in a courtroom I genuinely believe he would be thrown in jail

Peter Stefanovic

He made the strong statement after Mr Hunt repeatedly told the media the British Medical Association (BMA) "is not willing to negotiate" with the Government over proposed changes to Junior Doctors' contracts.

The plans mean Junior Doctors - any trainee medic below consultant level - will have their normal hours extended from 7pm to 10pm and to include Saturdays, meaning anti-social hours paid at a higher rate will be cut, slashing their overall salaries by up to 30 per cent.

Talking exclusively to Express.co.uk, he said: "I came to the conclusion that we could take nothing Mr Hunt was saying on the Junior Doctors dispute at face value and much of what he had to say was at best plainly wrong or at worst downright dishonest.

"Hunt has made us a laughing stock abroad. He is giving away a national treasure, our Junior Doctors."

He told Express.co.uk he was asking his taxi driver before the speech whether he had been following the Junior Doctors dispute and discovered he, and many other members of the public, thought the Government was saying "the junior doctors wanted more money".

The solicitor said: "That is completely wrong and a sad reflection of Government spin if that is what the public have been led to believe.

"Our Junior Doctors have never said they want more pay."

He said the hard-working trainees are "simply trying to keep the pay" they receive now while Mr Hunt is attempting to reduce it and force them to work longer hours.

He added: "No one would stand for this in any other job so why should our Junior Doctors?"

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"If Mr Hunt was saying this in a courtroom I genuinely believe he would be thrown in jail.

"The BMA has always been willing to negotiate."

He said the Government wants to impose and enforce the changes on Junior Doctors and it is they who are not willing to negotiate, not the BMA.

Mr Stefanovic added: "Our Junior Doctors are caring and kind individuals who have been bullied and victimised by the Government and because of Government spin and media manipulation with misinformation have been unable to fight back.

"I came forward as an advocate for our Junior Doctors to make sure the public understands the truth and the staggering scale of this injustice so that we can all stand shoulder to shoulder with our Junior Doctors against a health secretary who has become nothing less than a tyrant."

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The solicitor has urged the public to follow Express.co.uk's lead and stand with "our courageous Junior Doctors".

He added: "The support which Express.co.uk has given our Junior Doctors has been magnificent.

"It is the only national newspaper to openly stand in support of the Junior Doctors and for what is right, for what is fair and for what is just.

"These are principles upon which our nation has been built and which we have fought for many times.

"The Express has not forgotten that. The Express understands that the British people hate a bully and that once the people understand this is what is happening they will stand with our courageous Junior Doctors and fight with them!"